Cultural and Arts Commission organizes
display of works by local artists
By:Alec Moore
Alfonso’s Pizza and Pasta Shop is known for serving great Italian food, but soon the restaurant will also be known for showcasing the artwork of some of Hillsborough’s most prolific artists.
Although once bare, the newly renovated walls at Alfonso’s are now decked out with watercolor artistry from Hillsborough artists Ellen Faber, Janet Singley and Lorraine Williams as well as other artists from across New Jersey. The collection is part of the Hillsborough Cultural and Arts Commission’s exhibition of watercolor artwork, the first of what is expected to be monthly art exhibits at the restaurant.
Valerie Chaucer-Levine, president of the commission, had been looking for just the right location to showcase the commission’s art exhibit and found Alfonso’s to be perfectly suited to house the works of art.
"We spent a lot of time canvassing Hillsborough to find the perfect place," said Ms. Levine, a longtime customer at Alfonso’s. "I was sitting here with my family looking at the blank walls when I realized this was the perfect place."
"It looks ten times better than I imagined it looking," she added.
Paul DeMarchi, owner of Alfonso’s agreed completely with Ms. Levine’s sentiments.
"This looks so much better than any paintings we could have bought," said Mr. DeMarchi, an avid art enthusiast himself who was happy to oblige Ms. Levine’s request to display the paintings in his restaurant.
Ms. Levine noted that, although a definite date has not yet been set, the Hillsborough Cultural Arts Commission is planning to hold a reception night for the art exhibit sometime in early September. All of the paintings currently on display will be available for sale following the conclusion of the watercolor exhibit, at which point a new exhibit will be put up at the restaurant.